Kremlin accused of move to split protesters

The leaders of Russia’s opposition protest movement were embroiled in a scandal on the 19 December 2011 after recordings of private phone conversations in which they labelled each other 'scoundrels', 'bitches' and 'prostitutes' were posted on a Kremlin-friendly website.

The recordings could further divide the fractious protest movement – whose leadership tends to spend as much time fighting each other as they do the Kremlin – ahead of a large demonstration planned for the 24 December 2011.

'We were all expecting something like this' said Boris Nemtsov, leader of the Solidarity opposition group, which on the 10 December 2011 helped organise a 50,000 strong demonstration against rigged parliamentary elections.

ESO: Background information: Russian legislative election, 2011 http://www.europeansources.info/record/russian-legislative-election-2011-2/

ESO: Background information: Protesters defy troops on Moscow streets http://www.europeansources.info/record/protesters-defy-troops-on-moscow-streets/

RIA Novosti, December 2011- : Duma elections protests http://en.rian.ru/trend/2011_Duma_elections_protests/

BBC News, 20.12.11: Russia phone tap: Liberal Boris Nemtsov attacks Putin http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16261701

Deutsche Welle, 20.12.11: Russian opposition says phone hacking leak is a Kremlin smear campaign http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15614931,00.html

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